Coker extends ‘thoughts and prayers’ to citizens of Mobile

UTSA officials on Tuesday said their “thoughts and prayers” were with the citizens of Mobile, Ala., and the surrounding region.

The statements came hours after officials announced that UTSA’s season opener in football had been rescheduled to Saturday afternoon because of a threat from Hurricane Isaac.

UTSA and South Alabama are now set to kick off their seasons at 1 p.m. Saturday in Mobile.

“The safety of the citizens of Mobile and the entire Gulf Coast region should be the first and foremost concern right now,” UTSA coach Larry Coker said in a release.

Noting the efforts of athletic directors Lynn Hickey of UTSA and Joel Erdmann of South Alabama, Coker said that moving the game ensures that citizens will have an opportunity to “recover from any damage the storm inflicts, as well as giving us the chance to arrive safely.”

“There really isn’t much difference between playing on Thursday or Saturday as far as our preparation is concerned,” Coker said. “But right now our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who will be affected by Isaac.”

Previously listed as a Tropical Storm, Isaac has picked up intensity and is now officially a hurricane. It is scheduled to strike the New Orleans area tonight, with wind and heavy rain forecast for tonight and Wednesday.

Mobile is about 150 miles east of New Orleans.

Previously, UTSA had been scheduled to travel via charter aircraft into Mobile on Wednesday. The plan now is to is now travel on Friday, a spokesman said.

“Joel and his staff have been outstanding in working with us through the logistics of this situation,” UTSA athletic director Lynn Hickey said.